For some reason lately I've been thinking a lot about how to live life. Maybe it's the fact that I've become a great Stay at Home Mom - finally accepted the fact that someone else pays my bills (or should be, anyway...) and embraced motherhood to the fullest extent. Maybe it's the fact that I miss NYC and am trying to convince myself to spend money I shouldn't on a trip out there (brakes on a car should be repaired before jetting to another city, right?) Or maybe it's just that watching a 4 year old enjoy herself makes me want to live carefree and enjoy myself.
Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy myself. I love my life! My daughter is the most wonderful thing to have ever happened to me. And I think she is the reason I have decided to philosophize about life. I want to be sure I give her everything she could possibly need to live a happy. long, and successful life. But the definition of "success" is so different to everyone that I want to be sure to give her all kinds of options to explore and allow her to create her own definition.
So let's get back to life...
Responsibility is the number one thing people should live up to. It just should be that way! You are responsible for your own life: food, clothing, shelter, love, and the food, clothing, shelter, and love of any offspring you produce. If you cannot provide this, then find a way! Once these things are covered you can begin to work your way up Maslow's hierarchy of needs. But do not think for a minute that someone else should obtain these things for you.
After taking responsibility for your basic needs it is up to you to decide what to do next. Get a job you love? Schedule time to do things you love to do? Find a circle of friends to share life with? Have a child or two to mold into responsible citizens like you? Move in one direction to meet your chosen goal? Or float from goal to goal, new idea to new idea? Again, there is no one right path for everyone. We should all choose the pleasure for ourselves.
So why do I feel like it is irresponsible to go to NYC? I have a savings account. I make some money. I should be able to enjoy things like this! But I am so afraid of later in life not being able to provide the things I am responsible for that I save my money. And I save up my dreams of going places. So I am left watching other people love their lives while I save...Yes, I am still living. I still do fun things every day. Just today I went swimming and watched how my daughter jumps in, swims to me, floats, and spins in the water like she was born to do this! I don't need to do anything else. I don't NEED NYC. I WANT NYC. And therein lies the struggle of how to live life...
